LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The Sacramento Bee
January 3, 2004

Forest Conservation

Re "Trying to see forest for the trees," Dec. 22: The Conservation Fund deserves kudos for promoting sustainable forestry in the Garcia River watershed -- as does the Coastal Conservancy for its financial support, and the Bee for its coverage. Yet while the project is noteworthy for its size and scope, it is only one of many such effort to keep California's working forests economically productive.

Since 1993, the Pacific Forest Trust has conserves some 25,000 acres of the North Coast's most threatened working forests, often with help from Coastal Conservancy and other state agencies. We've accomplished this in partnership with forest owners themselves, a diverse group that includes ranchers, Indian tribes, small woodland owners and commercial timber companies.

There's no need for a nonprofit to own a forest for it to become a model of sustainable forestry. It is crucial, however, that we expand support and incentives for stewardship if we hope to halt the loss of private forests and protect the public benefits that flow from them -- fish and wildlife, recreational opportunities, clean water and more.

-Connie Best, Santa Rosa
Managing Director, The Pacific Forest Trust